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On the Rise_ Juju Watkins - Season 2 Episode 1 - Season Opener
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Short filmTranscript
00:00It's Galen Center's Grand Finale, with the final spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
00:11The question is, can you stop Juju Watkins?
00:19Different intensity level for USC on both ends of the floor.
00:23So top of the key, down the left side of the lane, goes up on here again, ripped by Kiki,
00:31ahead to Watkins for USC, down the right side of the lane, and she grabs her knee as she goes down.
00:40Watkins is holding the underside of her knee in a lot of pain.
00:46Stunned silence inside Galen Center.
00:53I will tell you, I've covered a lot of knee injuries in my time.
00:57The angle of the replay does not look good.
00:59It would be a surprise if this isn't a significant knee injury.
01:11I think it was definitely, like, denial.
01:14Like, there's absolutely no way this is happening to me right now.
01:18Went through the whole process, got an MRI, drove back to Galen.
01:22Got the news.
01:27And then, yeah, told the team, and that was it, yeah.
01:37Juju Watkins, unfortunately, a torn ACL ended her season.
01:48We wish her a healthy and speedy recovery.
01:50Do you think this is the last time we'll see Juju Watkins on a college basketball court?
01:55No.
01:56We expect our stars to be invincible.
01:58Nothing's supposed to happen.
02:00Watching Juju Watkins in pain like that, it was gut-wrenching.
02:04We are broken for her.
02:06There we go.
02:07Now we got some range.
02:08So let's go for ten.
02:10Three.
02:12Juju's loved by all of us.
02:14She's a phenomenal player.
02:15I think she is sensational.
02:17I'm just wishing her, my prayers are for her.
02:20Hopefully that she'll make a full recovery.
02:22It's not really moving fast, in my opinion.
02:34It's just week three.
02:36I've been underground.
02:38Like, I'm not integrating Black into society until I figure this out.
02:43Last measurement of the day.
02:46Go ahead.
02:47Here we go.
02:56Is that your max?
02:59It's just the thought of, like, damn, this isn't really what I'm doing right now.
03:03But I'm just trying to get back to my old self at this point.
03:10That's the goal.
03:11What's up with this Juju effect?
03:24She has a chance to be the greatest women's player ever.
03:28This sister is something special.
03:30Juju has the impact.
03:31Juju walked in as good as advertised.
03:34Every 20 to 25 years, you come across an athlete that's just different than everyone.
03:47Juju is that athlete.
03:52The mural, that had to be, like, one of the top moments for me.
03:58The fact that I'm driving past that, like, a lot is crazy.
04:02I saw it, like, every day.
04:03Rock out, seems like you're on the stage.
04:05Open it up, we got the rain.
04:06Yow, yow, yow.
04:08Now I know.
04:10She is one of the premier names globally.
04:14She's changing the landscape for female athletes.
04:17We all go, we all go, we all go, we all go, we all go, oh, oh.
04:21The Super Bowl commercial was insane.
04:25A partnership with Nike, Gatorade.
04:28You need a good Juju?
04:29Juju Watkins.
04:31State Farm.
04:32She's bringing fans from all over the world to see her play and play at a very high level.
04:37Ezzie and Paul, that's her game.
04:40This is just the start of who she is and what she means to women's basketball.
04:45Paris, hello.
04:58LA, we miss you, but it's pretty cool.
05:00Good morning, people.
05:01We are in Paris, and it is going to be a day.
05:04To kick off the season in Paris is really cool for the sport.
05:09Hey, guys, so we just got done with our beautiful boat dinner, and right now we are boating back
05:21to the Eiffel Tower.
05:22We're literally going by the Eiffel Tower right now.
05:24It's all lit up, glowing, super pretty.
05:30Women's basketball is becoming more of like a global thing, so to see I have supporters
05:35in France is something that I never really fathom.
05:42Today, we just have like a youth clinic with a bunch of little girls from France.
05:50Cinq, cinq.
05:51OK.
05:52Et la première qui a cinq et la gagne.
05:53La première.
05:54La première qui a cinq et la gagne.
05:56Non, non, non.
05:57La qui, la qui paix à dix.
05:59La qui?
06:00Non, dix, dix, dix, dix.
06:00La qui paix à tix.
06:02Le five, uh, ten.
06:04Yeah, dix.
06:05Un, deux, trois.
06:08Take a step back.
06:11No, no, no.
06:14No!
06:16D, D, USC.
06:18Un, deux, trois.
06:21UIT!
06:22That was so good.
06:24Guys, my French, my French just increased by 30.
06:28I had so much fun.
06:29Everybody, you know, it was kind of hard to, you know, communicate, but it was fun.
06:34I think they had a good time.
06:35You know, me, I speak French, so it was a little easier for me.
06:41D, D, D.
06:45Coming into the season, the highest ranked team in this conference is USC.
06:51Thanks to who?
06:51Juju Watkins, this is a team coming into the Big Ten, who I'm expecting to make a really
06:57deep run, be a Final Four team.
06:59They've added some really nice pieces.
07:05Good.
07:06Look at this beautiful arena, right?
07:08Play basketball all over the world.
07:09This is where Paris Basket plays.
07:11We get to open up the college season here, but make it feel like home today.
07:15Ready, go!
07:17We knew, obviously, having Juju returning was going to put us in a different echelon of
07:23ability and also expectation.
07:25But you got to go make sure you have the players and the pieces that can help you achieve what
07:30you want to achieve.
07:31So we added Kiki Iria-Fenn to the group.
07:34She was coming from Stanford, so I knew that, you know, she was kind of under some pressure
07:39just in terms of, like, leaving her old team.
07:43It was just a matter of getting to know one another.
07:46Go one more time, one more time.
07:48It's one thing to have a lot of talent on paper.
07:50It's another thing to be a really, really high-functioning basketball team, and that's
07:53my challenge in trying to figure that out.
07:55Ole Miss, a very, you know, mature team.
08:01They played with each other for a couple years, so it's definitely, like, going to be a tough
08:05match-up.
08:07The work is in, y'all.
08:08The work is in.
08:11So let's enjoy.
08:12Let's mentally go through with our minds later tonight, get off our feet, and get ready
08:16for game day tomorrow.
08:16One, two, three.
08:17Four, five, six.
08:19Family!
08:25We welcome you inside Adidas Arena in Paris, France, for a terrific match-up to tip off
08:37our college basketball season.
08:39Number three, USC, taking on number 20, Ole Miss.
08:43So much excitement for the star here today and for this season.
08:48Ole Miss is a formidable opponent.
08:51We knew going in they were going to pressure us.
08:52They're tough.
08:53They're intense.
08:54Way more veteran than us.
08:58Ole Miss wreaking defense is having.
09:02Watkins gives it up.
09:03Echo gets tripped.
09:05No call.
09:06It really boils down to experience, and I think when you have a new team and don't really
09:09have that, it's just, like, we're just trying to kind of find our feet, and, like, everybody's
09:14trying to figure out their roles.
09:15Guys, stand on.
09:17Guys, stand on.
09:18Here we have Ben plays it in.
09:20The Stanford transfer looking right at home with Juju Watkins.
09:24Run with your kids!
09:25Everybody!
09:26That first half in particular, I thought we were very tough.
09:33We got some transition buckets.
09:35Then the second half, the pressure really heated up.
09:37Dean, step back to Upen.
09:41And Ole Miss' lead is two.
09:44Watkins stood up, twists away, gives it up.
09:50Von Olaf in on the drive.
09:52Von Olaf in.
09:54Unable to bank it in, but gets the whistle.
09:58I think it's a challenge.
10:00You can tell.
10:01Go slow.
10:01Go slow.
10:02Go slow.
10:02Go slow.
10:04Let's stop.
10:06And then we have to rebound.
10:08Your game that started out clunky.
10:11You got a good one here.
10:12We showed a lot of toughness and a lot of grit to not fold, to fight back.
10:19I wasn't nervous.
10:20I wasn't worried.
10:21I was like, okay, let's see what we're making.
10:24And U.S. will shoot three throws here.
10:29Hiki Nurya-Fenn, the transfer from Stanford, has given U.S. the lead back.
10:38Hey, listen.
10:38We just got to get us up.
10:40We just got to get us up.
10:41Regular principles.
10:42Because we don't want them to get a check.
10:45The teams is out.
10:46Hey.
10:47No fouls.
10:48Clean defense.
10:50No and ones.
10:50Clean defense.
10:51No threes, no foul.
10:53But we got to get a stop, so.
10:56Inbound.
11:00In the sky.
11:01Here's Maddie Scott.
11:02Maddie Scott, three seconds left.
11:05Scott Williams leading as it stripped away.
11:08That will do.
11:08I thought it was a really big win and a big moment and a really good gut check for us in the first game against a tough team.
11:21But also provided just some really good intel of, hey, here's where we are and here's where we're capable of going.
11:27And I was really excited about that.
11:30How about better going home from Paris with a win than anything else?
11:33We should be uber grateful for the experience, right?
11:37And be really excited to say, how does this make us better for anything that we might fix?
11:44Not a great display of, you know, what we're capable of on both sides of the ball, defense and offense.
11:49But, you know, a win is a win.
11:53Now we can go back home and watch all that film and learn.
11:56I think this is just the beginning of something great.
12:13Here's what is mandated.
12:14Two sets.
12:15Two sets.
12:16If you want to go above and beyond two sets, feel free to do so.
12:19But our two sets for our floor press need to be work sets, not warm-up sets.
12:25We got time.
12:26We'll go two rounds, ten of everything.
12:29Questions, comments, concerns?
12:30All right.
12:32I'm just AGA here.
12:33Tell me who's getting us TVO.
12:35Let's go.
12:35One, two, three.
12:41That was hype for weeks before Notre Dame.
12:48The expectation was that it was going to be kind of a heavyweight battle between two great teams.
12:51For us, it's about being mentally sound and mentally tough to know that when the lights are the brightest, that we're prepared to be the best that we can be.
13:04You know, when it comes down to the wire, it's like, who's ready?
13:16Who's the most prepared?
13:17All right, she's there.
13:20Nope.
13:21Okay, keep ducking in.
13:22Yep.
13:23Just tell her.
13:24Give it to her.
13:24Give it to her.
13:25She's there.
13:25She's there.
13:25She's there.
13:26Give it to her.
13:26Go again.
13:27Go again.
13:29With Notre Dame, I mean, they're just such a greedy team.
13:33I'm just excited to play another top team.
13:36I mean, this is our first, like, top ten matchup.
13:46Go ahead.
13:46Go a little forward, guys.
13:48Walk a little forward.
13:52I'm really excited to see DJ Lockheed.
13:54I like her hairstyle.
13:57What you got up there?
13:58Look at your jacket.
13:58How about the juju, Joelle?
14:03Ooh.
14:04Yes.
14:07I don't know that it was planned to just do the juju buns for the game days.
14:14I think it organically just happened.
14:16It kind of evolved into, like, our bonding moments.
14:20Does it feel stable?
14:21The identity just kind of attached itself to her.
14:30I just came out here to support him to get the bun, because the bun looks good.
14:34We put him in ponytails, but a lot of people say that they look like juju's bun.
14:39You got little girls wearing a bun to be like juju.
14:44It's like, I want to be like Mike.
14:46We all grew up wanting to be like Mike.
14:49She's having that type of effect on the game.
14:52You have to be so special to have that type of effect.
14:56To see these young girls out here, you know, inspired by her, just melts my heart.
15:02Like, I had, like, just random people coming up to me like, oh, your mom didn't do your
15:10hair yet, so.
15:11Yeah, it's a little embarrassing, but I guess it's cute.
15:14I saw Simone Biles' mom does her hair, too, so that made me feel a little better about
15:19it.
15:21Love you.
15:22Have a good game.
15:32Notre Dame's an elite, great team.
15:35Without question, I thought, a Final Four contender.
15:39Hidalgo, another steal, and coast to coast.
15:43Hannah Hidalgo is one of the frontrunners for Player of the Year, and her now with a healthier
15:49Olivia Miles has been a dangerous backcourt.
15:55But the parity in women's basketball over time has gotten more prominent.
16:02There is no clear frontrunner for number one team.
16:07I think that we're ready, and we know it's a big challenge, but I don't think you know
16:11what to expect until you're in it.
16:21We welcome you into Big Ten Basketball, for what should be a competitive and exciting early
16:27season top ten matchup.
16:29This is the place to be on a Saturday afternoon.
16:33Snoop Dogg, Michael B. Jordan, Candace Parker, and also Sheryl Miller.
16:41Created the foundation for what we're seeing right here, a sold-out crowd.
16:47Notre Dame was a great team, and they're coming to USC.
16:50There's a lot of hype behind it, a lot of hype behind it.
16:52Well, one thing about L.A., if you're all down in the city, they're going to rock with you.
16:56You know what I'm saying?
16:57They're going to rock with you.
16:58What's up, dude?
17:00I thought my pregame switch was good, but this makes a little better, right?
17:03Of course, of course, of course.
17:04What's up?
17:05I'm proud of y'all.
17:06You know what I'm saying?
17:06I know I don't know y'all, y'all don't mean, but I've been watching y'all for a minute,
17:09and I'm hyped to see this game.
17:11What do we got on three?
17:12Win on three?
17:13One, two, three.
17:15Did you know?
17:16I know.
17:17I was so...
17:18I say they didn't even try.
17:21Both of these teams are coming to this one undefeated on this season.
17:24Let's go.
17:25Let's go.
17:26Yes, let's go.
17:27Let's go.
17:28Let's go.
17:28Let's go.
17:29Let's go.
17:30Let's go.
17:31Time is all to work.
17:33All to work.
17:34Here comes the average.
17:36Miles gets into the lane.
17:38Watson, this is a strike.
17:39And Donald puts it up for two.
17:41They threw the first punch and the second punch.
17:45And we got our ass kicked out of the gate.
17:49The anticipation.
17:50Cross-court pass.
17:52The left-two backcourt.
17:54Putting on a show early.
17:55It's such a blessing to be able to play at home and play in front of so many fans.
18:00I think my mindset was just to play my game and not let their defense make me a little bit scramble.
18:09Oh, come on, Joe.
18:10Ready?
18:11Go!
18:11Go!
18:15We knew it was coming, and yet we just sort of let them get out in transition.
18:21Juju in particular, they were all over her.
18:23The doggo up against Watkins.
18:26She's been waiting for that matchup.
18:28And Notre Dame made it take its lead.
18:40Up by seven at the half.
18:44Somehow, miraculously, we're down seven, and it could have been three, but we didn't execute the game plan a number of times.
18:51Just stop living in your own f***ing individual worlds.
18:58Watkins, step through.
19:01Watkins gets the rebound.
19:04Keeps it.
19:06With pace.
19:09I thought we showed some fight in that third quarter.
19:11I thought, Juju, assert yourself.
19:14Stripped away by Watkins.
19:16Watkins, stay.
19:21Juju Watkins is double figures now.
19:25But I think we looked like a team at that point who expected it to be easy.
19:36Yes, we got lucky there.
19:37That was another costly time over where Notre Dame has gotten off and got it.
19:41It's proving to be part of the difference in this game.
19:43Absolutely.
19:43They're kicking off, so we can look like they're kicking off and be defeated, or we can look like we're trying to fight and become something.
19:56It's different playing at home.
19:57There's so many people that you want to perform for.
20:01And, you know, when you don't get that right outcome at home, especially, it's like, it's heartbreaking.
20:14This game has to come to an end.
20:17Just a dominant performance.
20:19Notre Dame, be honest.
20:22Bought their A game on the road.
20:25It was a really tough loss.
20:27I think we all took it very personally.
20:28And, you know, kind of made a vow to ourselves that we were going to continue to push through the season and do whatever it took to become a team that was super connected and just locked in.
20:44This is an Elite Eight rematch.
20:47UConn got the upset of the one-seeded USC team.
20:50These teams have been waiting on this for the entirety of the season.
20:58We're going to have three lines.
21:01Three.
21:03Three.
21:04Three lines.
21:05Oui?
21:08Bro, I'm not saying this right.
21:09No, I'm saying.
21:11OK.
21:12The first team has 10.
21:15Good, it's good, it's good.
21:16What is that?
21:17Two, two, two.
21:20Oh!
21:24Yeah!
21:25Woo!
21:25Woo!
21:26Woo!
21:26Woo!
21:26Woo!
21:26Woo!
21:26Woo!
21:26Woo!
21:27Woo!
21:27Woo!
21:28Woo!
21:28It's good, it's good, it's good, it's good, it's good.
21:29One, two, three.
21:31U.S.T.!
21:34Good job!
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